Cobb Landmarks Unveils 'Gem City' Book

After months of anticipation, a new coffee table book featuring the historic homes of Marietta—and the people associated with them over the years—has finally arrived. And the Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society, which published the book, has been noticeably ecstatic about this with “The Gem City book has arrived!” plastered throughout its Web site.

Local historian/author Douglas Frey will be available to sign copies of Marietta, the Gem City of Georgia: A Celebration of Its Homes – A Portrait of Its People during the society’s semi-annual membership meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the .

Folks who pre-ordered copies of the book or who wish to purchase on can do so from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today or Saturday. The book also is on sale through the Cobb Landmark Web site. A first run of 2,000 copies were printed along with 175 special editions in honor of Marietta’s 175^th anniversary.

Frey’s work on the book sprung from another historic venture. Frey and his wife, Rachel, , a Queen Anne-style dwelling on the street of the same name in 2001.

As the Freys performed their extensive research on their own home, Doug Frey collected information on other historic homes in Marietta. And, thus, grew the 432-page coffee-table.

The book features 50 of the city’s oldest homes and the families who lived in them as his focus. Working with photographer Jim DiVitale, the book provides an intimate window into Marietta’s historic past, according to Cobb Landmarks.